MV Tick Program

The Martha’s Vineyard Tick-borne Illness Reduction Initiative (aka the Tick Program) is dedicated to reducing the number of ticks and tick-borne illnesses on Martha’s Vineyard through education, advocacy and cooperation with other organizations and individuals.The tick program is funded through the PHE grant. Patrick Roden-Reynolds represents the Tick-borne Illness Reduction efforts of all Boards of Health 

Tick yard surveys:  From mid-May through the end of July Tick Program staff will visit your yard, complete an assessment of potential tick habitat, check the yard for ticks and discuss ways you can reduce the number of ticks and the chance of being bitten.  We request a minimum $50.00 contribution for each survey, however we will do the survey for free if the contribution is an issue.  If you would like to have a tick survey next spring, please complete a Request for Tick Yard Survey

 

Hunting on Private Property: We work with private landowners to connect them with responsible hunters to reduce deer populations Island-wide by targeting residential areas, a preferred habitat of our deer population. 

 

 

Public Presentations: Tick Program staff do frequent public presentations throughout the year, focusing on ways to minimize the risk of tick-borne illnesses to you, your family and your pets.  We also cover the latest research on ticks, including data on the location and frequency of our three common ticks collected during the yard surveys.  If you would like to receive email notifications of our public presentation please contact Patrick Roden-Reynolds

 

Private Small Group Presentation:  We also do presentation by request for Road and Homeowner Associations, civic groups and small groups of concerned individuals.  These presentations are shorter and can be customized to meet the interests of the group.  If you would like to request a small group presentation please contact Patrick Roden-Reynolds